[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Farticles\u002Fwe-should-know-better":3,"\u002Farticles\u002Fwe-should-know-better-surround":74},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"bibleBooks":8,"body":16,"columnName":56,"date":57,"description":22,"extension":58,"image":59,"meta":60,"minRead":61,"navigation":62,"path":63,"postType":64,"publication":65,"publicationUrl":59,"seo":66,"stem":67,"topics":68,"__hash__":73},"blog\u002Farticles\u002Fwe-should-know-better.md","We Should Know Better",{"name":7},"Dave Faust",[9,10,11,12,13,14,15],"Proverbs","Luke","Romans","Colossians","1 Timothy","2 Timothy","1 Peter",{"type":17,"value":18,"toc":52},"minimark",[19,23,31,34,40,46,49],[20,21,22],"p",{},"When I was a boy my parents, teachers, and coaches used different techniques to get my attention and teach me discipline; but few rebukes stung more than when someone I respected looked at me and said, “David, you know better than that!” Those words hurt because they meant I had disappointed someone I held in high esteem. They hurt even more because there’s something intrinsically painful about an incoherent life (failing to act in harmony with what we know is true).",[20,24,25,26,30],{},"In a truly wise person, facts and acts converge. Information leads to transformation as we grow in Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Mark Batterson points out in his book ",[27,28,29],"em",{},"In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day"," (Multnomah, 2006) that there’s a big difference between a school transcript and a resume: one shows what we hopefully have learned, but the other shows what we actually have done.",[20,32,33],{},"The problem is,* sometimes we truly don’t know any better. We are uninformed.* Before Paul became a Christian he was intelligent and well-educated, yet he “acted in ignorance and unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13). Spiritual ignorance is rampant today. Many are well-educated in the ways of the world, but they lack basic knowledge about God’s will revealed in the Bible. Too many Christians don’t know how to present positive evidence to support their faith. In a day of religious confusion, Paul’s instructions to Timothy have never been more relevant: “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).",[20,35,36,39],{},[27,37,38],{},"Sometimes we think we know better, but we don’t. We are arrogant."," True wisdom leads to humility and a teachable spirit, while false wisdom leads to cockiness and pride. “Pride goes before destruction,” the Bible says, “and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Pride brought down hard-hearted Pharaoh, boastful Nebuchadnezzar, and self-important Herod. Humility made Jonathan defer to David, Jesus wash his disciples’ feet, and Dorcas serve the poor. The Bible says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).",[20,41,42,45],{},[27,43,44],{},"Sometimes we know better, but we don’t care enough to do anything about it. We are apathetic."," Today the church has at our disposal tools, technologies, and freedoms seldom seen in the history of the world, but none of this will matter if we nap in spiritual slumber. How foolish it would be to waste these opportunities! “Never be lacking in zeal,” the Bible says, “but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).",[20,47,48],{},"Jesus asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46), then the Master Carpenter went on to tell a story about two men in the construction business. The wise builder (who constructs his house on a bedrock foundation) represents the one who hears his words and puts them into practice, while the foolish builder (who constructs his house on sand) represents the one who hears but doesn’t obey. If we build shallow lives based on our own viewpoints and self-interest, the day will come when everything collapses and our consciences will whisper, “You knew better than that!”",[20,50,51],{},"Thankfully, there’s a better way—a life built on the solid rock of true wisdom. It’s the coherent life where we hear the Word and obey it, our beliefs align with our actions, and we rely on God’s grace to handle those pieces of incoherence that linger no matter how hard we try to eliminate them.",{"title":53,"searchDepth":54,"depth":54,"links":55},"",2,[],"Another Look","2011-08-08","md",null,{},3,true,"\u002Farticles\u002Fwe-should-know-better","column","The Lookout",{"title":5,"description":22},"articles\u002Fwe-should-know-better",[69,70,71,72],"Biblical Theology","Spiritual Formation","Discipleship","Intergenerational Ministry","l9Ipb2oh7oFBRm5SMn8eUWfENVZJynf--Prov07GICA",[75,80],{"title":76,"path":77,"stem":78,"description":79,"children":-1},"We’re Sorry","\u002Farticles\u002Fwe-re-sorry","articles\u002Fwe-re-sorry","If confession is good for the soul, why is it so hard to pray, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner”? Pride is a speed bump on the path to God’s throne of grace.",{"title":81,"path":82,"stem":83,"description":84,"children":-1},"Weak End, Strong Start","\u002Farticles\u002Fweak-end-strong-start","articles\u002Fweak-end-strong-start","A radio program called “The Rest of the Story” aired daily for many years. It featured veteran media personality Paul Harvey telling cliffhangers that omitted key elements of the narrative until the very end. Harvey’s stories were like riddles that made listeners wonder how they would end."]